With the introduction of the EOS 70D ($1199+), Canon is aiming to make its mid-range DSLR a go-to tool for shooting not only photo, but videos. Although the body is very similar to that of the EOS 60D, there are some serious changes on the inside. While still APS-C-sized, the sensor packs Canon’s new Dual Pixel CMOS AF auto-focus technology, designed to make the camera’s video focusing faster—camcorder-quality—while radically improving focusing time and accuracy in Live View mode, as well.
The sensor is a 20.2-megapixel APS-C Canon CMOS, with a DIGIC 5+ Image Processor and ISO range of 100-12800, expandable to 25600. New Canon engineering has doubled the actual number of photo sites on the sensor, enabling the 70D to make video and Live View focus decisions across millions of pixels at a time, a process assisted by the fast DIGIC 5+; 19 full cross-style autofocus points are available when using the optical viewfinder. Like the 6D, you get integrated Wi-Fi for image sharing and remote composition, plus a fold-out touchscreen display akin to the best of Canon’s lower-end Rebel series DSLRs. For $1349, you’ll be able to get the 70D body bundled with an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens, and $200 more gets you the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens. This one looks like a real winner.
